AI is THE technology trend of 2024 – that’s the consensus among IT decision-makers in Germany. Earlier this year, a representative survey commissioned by eco – Association of the Internet Industry revealed that almost three-quarters of respondents (73.6 per cent) see AI as the most important driver of digital innovation. It is clear that AI, quantum computing and other digital technological innovations will fundamentally change our world in all areas over the next decade.

The recently founded "German Alliance for Informatics Education" aims to overcome this discrepancy and is committed to ensuring that all pupils benefit from Informatics Education across the board.

There is a lot of room for improvement in the teaching of digital skills in German schools: 88.1 per cent of Germans would like to see better digital education in schools, but a breakthrough is not to be expected with the start of the new school year 2023/2024.

On 17 May, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) hosted the inaugural section meeting, “Education in the Digital Transformation”. In this section of the BMBF Digital Summit Platform “Learning Systems | Digital Competences”, in which eco is also represented, projects and initiatives are to be developed that advance digitalisation.

According to a recent representative population survey by eco – Association of the Internet Industry and the market and opinion research company Civey*, 64.2 per cent of those surveyed want children to learn how to counter bullying and hatred online while they are in school.

As another Covid year draws to a close, let’s take the opportunity to review the digital policy highlights of this year! To begin with the brightest news of the year: In these Covid times, digital infrastructures, digital technologies and digital applications have kept things up and running, thereby contributing to combatting the pandemic by switching physical contacts to the virtual.

The coalition negotiations between the SPD, Bündnis 90/The Greens and FDP are nearing completion. The first known details about the plans for the future direction of digital policy dampen hopes for a strategic realignment that could give new impetus to the digital transformation and Germany as a digital location.

Following on from the regional state elections at the beginning of June, Saxony-Anhalt is on the verge of forming a new government. eco welcomes the fact that the planned tripartite alliance of CDU, SPD and FDP is focusing on digitalisation in the current draft of a coalition agreement, and that it is seeking to advance digitalisation with a ministry set up specifically for this purpose.

“Digitalisation in schools is not just a nice to have, but a basic existential requirement for the future of Germany as a location for education and business,” says eco Chair Oliver Süme.

In light of the Corona crisis, the German federal government should focus more on digital policy issues. 65.4 percent of Germans share this view, according to a representative survey commissioned by eco – Association of the Internet Industry from the opinion research institute Civey - a survey in which 2,500 people in Germany took part at the beginning of August.